Boom in online travel buying revealed

ABTA Convention special report: More than 40% of consumers are buying holidays via online travel agencies, according to ABTA.

The popularity in travel online has been fuelled by an 86% rise in broadband internet connections which make searching and booking travel through the web easier, together with the growth in better website technology.

The association revealed that as a result 42% of the travelling public now buy their holidays via online agencies – not all of them ABTA members.

But ABTA claimed that high street agents are holding their own against a background of an apparent increase in threats to safety overseas by proving they are the best place for face to face assurance, expertise, knowledge and convenience – while selling more tailormade holiday arrangements.

Meanwhile, the popularity of long haul travel has been confirmed with a growth rate of 12% in the first half of the year against 3.2% in European destinations.

The figures, revealed by ABTA at its annual travel convention, show an overall rise of 5% in the number of British holiday visits abroad in the first six months of 2005. However, president Martin Wellings admitted that much of the growth had come from people booking no-frills flight direct on the Internet.

Middle East countries such as Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Dubai, Eilat and Oman have emerged as this year’s ‘hot’ destinations.

UK visits to Egypt have risen by 54% so far this year to 665,886, with Turkey showing a 27% rise to 1.7 million this year, Morocco up an expected 25% and a 151% increase to Jordan.

These countries were described as offering excellent quality, value for money and the opportunity to experience different cultures and adventures.

Top winter 2005-06 destinations for the 10 million people expected to travel between November and March are traditional favourites such as Spain, France, Cyprus, Turkey, the US and the Caribbean.

ABTA says that with the euro continuing to remain strong, countries outside the eurozone are offering extra value for money.

The association’s president Martin Wellings said: “Everyone knows that tourism is a great way to broaden horizons, break down barriers and is the enemy of narrow-mindedness and bigotry. 

“It’s fantastic that the travel industry is bucking the political trend and that the Middle East is the new ‘hot’ destination to be seen in.”

Report by Phil Davies